Other D&D Variant Castles&Crusades: Codex Exaltum and Codex Infernum

[GothmogIV]

I have been going through Troll Lords' latest releases for their Castles&Crusades game, the Codex Exaltum and the Codex Infernum, and I think they are great! I remember angelic/celestial beings back in the 2e days when I was a kid, but we never did much with them at the table. Devils and demons were endemic. In Dragon Magazine #75, from 1983, there was an article called "The Nine Hells Part I"that has stayed with me over the decades. Written by Ed Greenwood, it was my first entrance to the horrors of the Hells, and to this day it sparks my imagination. While these new books are definitely written for C&C, there is a great deal of system-neutral information about things like possession, the hierarchies of angels, and how to use these powers and principalities (to quote a book...) at your table. The art work is fabulous: really evocative stuff about how freaking strange angels are, and how horrifying the infernals are. Highly recommended!

(I've uploaded three pictures from my laptop. I am hoping (?) seeing them isn't a problem since I gather it can be hard for people in the UK to view certain kinds of media on these forums?)

 

[Jahydin]

Thanks for posting about them. I haven't bought TL product in awhile, but just might grab these (I do have a soft spot for angels and demons).

Also, if you want some books with killer art of Dante's Hell, check out the 5E adaption from Acheron!

 

[M.L. Martin]

How does the Codex Exaltum describe Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael?

 

[GothmogIV]

Everything is stat blocked, but they are very, very tough critters.

 

[nevin]

I might have to check these out. Thanks

 

[M.L. Martin]

Everything is stat blocked, but they are very, very tough critters.

Yes, but are they good? The introduction to the Codex seems to take a very hard-edged and cynical view of Celestials.

 

[GothmogIV]

The author took pains to explain that they are good, but they are not your friends. An example from the text: the angels that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah were good, but they eradicate an entire city full of men, women, and children.

 

[Voadam]

Are they D&Dified for their individual entry lore or are they full on an existing non rpg lore such as biblical references?

 

[GothmogIV]

I haven’t read the whole thing yet; but what I did read was great. I read the beginning part talking about all of these creatures in general, but I haven’t gone through every entry yet.I don’t know if you can post pictures from books on these forums, or I would share an entry.